1 Yankee who must step up while Aaron Judge is out

With Aaron Judge dealing with an injury, the Yankees need utility man Oswaldo Cabrera to step up his game more than anyone else.

Aaron Judge exiting a game in the fourth inning is the last thing the Yankees want. In a tweet on Friday, The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reported, “Aaron Judge is having an MRI on his right hip and the Yankees are still awaiting results.”

Fans are left to wonder how the Yankees will fill the hole in the lineup if Judge misses significant time.

The Yankees have already been without Giancarlo Stanton in their outfield, and Harrison Bader is still working his way back. Aaron Hicks’ struggles at the plate and in the field have been ongoing. Oswaldo Cabrera is the most important Yankee who needs to step up in Judge’s absence.

Yankees need Oswaldo Cabrera to take things up a notch with Aaron Judge out

Cabrera replaced Judge when he came out of Thursday’s game. Since his MLB debut last August, the 24-year-old utility player has shown hustle and enthusiasm. He’s provided much needed versatility in succeeding at any position the Yankees need him to play. While Cabrera is a natural infielder, he’s seen more time in the outfield based on roster construction.

Cabrera’s ability to play the outfield becomes more crucial if Judge lands on the IL. Even if Judge doesn’t miss much time, giving him some games at DH could keep him fresher. The same goes for the other injured Yankee outfielders upon their return. Stanton typically sees a lot of time at DH.

For the team to stay afloat with some big names on the shelf, young guys like Cabrera need to provide offense. He hasn’t been sharp at the plate this season, hitting .211 with a .524 OPS. It’s still early enough in the season that Cabrera can get his bat going and have an offensive impact on this team. He’ll need to in order to see regular playing time when the Yankees have a full strength lineup.

With Judge out on Friday night, Cabrera already showed he’s up to the task. In the 6th inning, Cabrera flashed some leather in left field, making a diving catch that pumped up the crowd and his team. Cabrera can give the Yankees the spark that they need.